Windows 11 test builds add search filters and Xbox mode quick settings

Microsoft is testing a much more capable Windows 11 search box and a few long-requested shortcuts for its full-screen Xbox gaming mode. Both arrive in new Windows Insider builds, Beta build 26220.9836 and Experimental build 26340.9843, The Verge reports. They are test versions, so features can still change before they reach regular PCs.

A smarter search box

The changes to search are the bigger part of the update:

• Filters let you narrow results to files, actions or web results.
• Actions run straight from search: you can change the screen brightness or volume, and do things on a connected phone, including making calls.
• Richer results show details such as when a file was last modified and who created it, and can pull in charts for stock prices and weather forecasts.
• Feedback buttons: thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons next to results let you tell Windows which answers were useful, so search can improve over time.

Quick settings in Xbox mode

Windows 11's Xbox mode turns a PC or handheld into a console-style, full-screen interface. Until now, changing basic settings often meant dropping back to the desktop. The new builds add shortcuts for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and power settings inside Xbox mode, which matters most on handheld gaming PCs where switching to the desktop is awkward.

When will everyone get it?

Microsoft hasn't given a date. Features in the Beta channel usually reach regular Windows 11 users within a few months, while those in the Experimental channel may change a lot or never ship. Microsoft lists the full changes in its Windows Insider blog post.

The builds follow other gaming-focused tweaks, such as the APX toggle for Intel's Nova Lake chips. If you game on a PC with a pad, our PC game controller buying guide compares the main options, and what is cloud gaming explains how streaming services fit in.